Involvement of microRNA-423 Gene Variability in Breast Cancer Progression in Saudi Arabia

Aim: microRNA-423 is an oncogenic factor which is frequently upregulated in cancer. However, associations with breast cancer risk remain inconsistent. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of microRNA-423 rs6505162C>T gene variation with breast cancer susceptibility in Saudi women. Methodology: This study was conducted on 100 breast cancer patients and 124 matched healthy individuals. Genotyping of the microRNA-423 rs6505162C/T gene variation was performed by using the amplification refractory mutation system PCR method (ARMS-PCR). Results: A significant difference was observed in the genotype distribution between the breast cancer cases and controls (p=0.0001), the frequencies of the genotypes CC,CT and TT being 25%, 52% and 23% in patients and 65%,20% and 15% respectively, in controls. The microRNA-423 C>T variant was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in codominant models for (OR = 6.73, 95 % CI, 3.50-12.97; RR 2.35(1.67-3.30, p=0.0001) the microRNA-423TT genotype and (OR = 4.14, 95 % CI, 1.93-8.87; p=0.0003) microRNA-423CT (OR= 6.73, 95% CI, 3.50-12.97; p=0.0001) and also with the dominant model (OR 5.6(3.14-1.01), p=0.0001) CT+TT vs CC) with a non-significant association for the recessive model (OR=1.75, 95%CI=0.08-3.44, P=0.139, TT vs CC+CT). The T allele significantly increased the risk of breast cancer (OR =2.63, 95 % CI, 1.77-3.91; p=0.001) compared to the C allele. Some 6.73 ,4.14 and 2.63 fold increased risk of developing breast cancer was associated with TT and CT genotypes and the T allele of microRNA-423 in the northwestern region of Saudi Arabia. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the microRNA-423 TT genotype and the T allele are associated with an increased susceptibility, metastasis and advanced stage of breast cancer in Saudi Arabian patients. Further studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to confirm our findings.

Differentiated thyroid carcinoma referred for radioiodine therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The current work was conducted to study the disease status and treatment results of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma referred for radioactive iodine therapy. METHODS: Retrospective review of 78 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma referred for radioiodine therapy in the Nuclear Medicine Unit, King Abdulaziz Hospital and Oncology Center, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Analysis of the clinicopathologic characteristics, age correlation to different risk factors, treatment protocol and results were performed. RESULTS: Seventy seven percent were female and the female to male ratio was 3.5:1. The age of patients ranged between 13-63 years with a median age of 36 years. Cervical lymph node involvement was detected in 22 patients (25%). Papillary carcinoma was encountered in 78 patients (90%) and follicular carcinoma in 9 patients (10%). Analysis of the clinicopathologic characteristics showed no statistically significant difference between patients in the different age groups except for extrathyroid extension and lymph node involvement. Patients older than 45 years had a statistically significant lower incidence of nodal involvement and higher incidence of extra thyroid extension (P<0.02). In the current study we used a high dose method (Radioiodine-131 dose 75-100mCi) for thyroid remnant ablation after thyroidectomy (total or near total) in 67 patients. An Iodine 131 dose of 150 mCi was used in 12 patients with radioiodine-avid cervical lymph nodes and in 3 patients with gross residual tumor. In 4 patients with distant metastases an Iodine 131 dose of 200 mCi was used. For the whole study group the 5 year overall survival and disease-free survival was 96% and 88%. CONCLUSION: The current study, as with many other retrospective studies, concluded that despite the fact that differentiated thyroid carcinoma is among the most curable cancers, some patients are still at high risk for recurrent disease and associated mortality.

Gigantic jejunal leiomyosarcoma.

Jejunal leiomyosarcoma is a rare neoplasm. We report a case of gigantic leiomyosarcoma of the jejunum in a 30-year old man who presented with abdominal distension, pain and constipation. Computerized tomography scan revealed a giant tumor filling the entire abdominal cavity. Fine needle aspiration cytology was suspicious. At laparotomy, a huge jejunal leiomyosarcoma measuring 30 x 25 x 19 cm and weighing 13 kg was completely excised. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of a giant jejunal leiomyosarcoma.